rmt news march 2016

ISSUE NUMBER 3, VOLUME 19

Essential reading for today’s transport worker

MARCH 2016

www.rmt.org.ukwww.rmt.org.uk

TICKET OFFICE CARNAGEBLOCKED!

INSIDE THISISSUE

RFA ACTIONPAGE 4

SIGNALLERS ORGANISEPAGE 10

PENSIONSPAGE 10

RMT News is compiled and originated by National Union of Rail, Maritime &Transport Workers, Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD. Tel:020 7387 4771. Fax: 020 7529 8808. e-mail [email protected] Theinformation contained in this publication is believed to be correct but cannotbe guaranteed. All rights reserved. RMT News is designed by BighandCreative and printed by Leycol Printers. General editor: Mick Cash.Managing editor: Brian Denny. No part of this document may be reproducedwithout prior written approval of RMT. No liability is accepted for any errorsor omissions. Copyright RMT 2016

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2016 :: RMTnews

3

RMT public campaigning has secureda massive victory in the on-going fightto stop ticket office closures.

Proposals by Govia ThameslinkRailways to shut or change openinghours at ticket offices in London havebeen knocked back following a vigorousRMT postcard campaign.

However we still have a long way togo and we must keep the pressure onGTR to drop the whole ill-conceivedplan on all routes both inside andoutside the London area.

These plans are driven by the desireto de-staff our railways in the quest forprofit and would unleash a wave ofticket office carnage across the basket-cases of Britain’s privatised railwaynetwork.

There has also been a massive victoryin the battle for public ownership asDeutsche Bahn (DB) subsidiary Arrivawill have their contract for the Tyne andWear Metro ripped up with the servicebeing taken into direct public controlfrom next year.

This result comes after years of hardwork and pressure from RMT and wewill now press for the initial two-yeartransition to be turned into a permanentarrangement for this essential publicservice.

However it is madness to now handover the Northern franchise to DB, theGerman state railway.

Since 2007 Northern Rail has alreadysucked passengers dry to pay £179million dividends to the previousfranchise owners Serco and the Dutchstate railway.

Transport for London also plans tohand busy London Overground over toArriva despite the fact that the Germantransport ministry openly admits that itwill be skimming profit from the entireDB to “make sure it is invested in therail network here in Germany”.

How can this government claim thatit is ideologically opposed to publicownership of rail by the UK governmentand then hand these public services toGerman, Dutch and French staterailways?

EU rail directives and packages andtendering rules are creating theconditions for the model of railprivatisation imposed in Britain for thelast 20 years to be imposed acrossEurope.

This model didn’t work here and itwon’t work elsewhere and the break-upof national networks will only benefitrail monopolies private or otherwise thatare only interested in profit.

The Shaw Report on the future ofNetwork Rail also leaves the door opento a Tory "smash and grab" raid onsome of Britain's last remainingpublicly-owned rail assets.

Although it balked at the idea of fullprivatisation after a strong RMTcampaign, Network Rail assets fromstations to power and other parts of theinfrastructure, are set up to be knockedout in a fire sale to private speculatorsleading to further fragmentation.

RMT is also fighting to keepCaledonian MacBrayne lifeline ferries inthe public sector and a new reportwarned of the dangers of privatisation.

It reaches a number of conclusionsthat make an overwhelming case forkeeping the Cal Mac operation in thepublic sector.

It found that Cal Mac has operated inan efficient, innovative and strategicway on the current CHFS contract andhas shared with the Scottish governmentall the benefits of cost savings.

Scottish taxpayers, ferry workers andpassengers cannot afford these lifelineservices being placed into the hands ofSerco, specialists in failure if ever therewas one.

contents

When you have finished with this magazine give it to aworkmate who is not in your union. Even better, ask them tojoin RMT by filling in the application form opposite

TICKET OFFICEVICTORY

Page 4 RFA ACTI ON

Page 5 SHAW REPORT “ SMASH AND GRAB”

Page 6 NORTHERN HANDED TO DEUTSCHE BAHN

Page 7 TI CKET OFFI CE CARNAGE BLOCKED

Page 8PI CCADI LLY LI NE STRI KE

Page 9PARLI AMENTARY COLUMN

Page 10SI GNALLERS ORGANI SE

Page 12CANCER AND THE WORKPLACE

Page 14ORGANI SI NG FOR CATERI NG

Page 16YOUR PENSI ON

Page 18THE SI LENT KI LLER

Page 20WOMEN ORGANI SI NG

Page 21PRESI DENT’ S COLUMN

Page 23VI NDI CATI ON FOR MARK HARDI NG

Page 24EMEMBERSHI P I S HERE

Page 26VI NDI CATI ON FOR MARK HARDI NG

Page 27YOUNG MEMBERS MEET

Page 29BUI LDI NG I NTERNATI ONAL SOLI DARI TY

0CROSSWORD

EDITORIAL

RMT is preparing for industrial actioninvolving hundreds of staff across the

Royal Fleet Auxiliary over an attack on payand working conditions.

Any campaign of action will involve allRFA members including those on the shipRFA Mount’s Bay which is currently beingdeployed to the Aegean Sea as part of thegovernment’s anti-people smugglingoperations.

The issues at the heart of the dispute arethe imposition of a one per cent payincrease despite RMT members rejecting theoffer, imposing changes to staffing withoutagreement and creating banding levelswhich sees captain’s receiving biggerincreases by taking cash out of the pocketsof RMT members.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash saidthat RFA staff have been deployed to

sensitive and dangerous operations downthe years, including todays developments onthe migrant crisis in the Aegean, the recentEbola outbreak in Sierra Leone and warzones like the Falklands and the Gulf.

“These are brave and hard-working menand women who deserve respect andrecognition for the critical role that theyfulfil. RMT stands behind our RFA members100 per cent,” he said.

RMT national secretary Steve Todd saidthat the attack on the pay and conditions ofRFA staff was wholly unacceptable and theattempt to impose fundamental changes leftRMT with no option but to prepare foraction.

“The union is sick and tired of RFA staffbeing written out of the script bygovernment ministers which is exactly whathappened with the announcement on the

operations off the Turkish coast. “It is a disgraceful way to treat this

courageous and committed group ofworkers,” he said.


4

Anew independent report hasreinforced the case FOR

keeping Caledonian MacBraynelifeline ferries in the publicsector and HAS warned of thedangers of privatisation.

The RMT- commissionedreport by Jeanette FindlayEconomics Lecturer at GlasgowUniversity and respected analystof the economics of Scottishferries, reaches a number ofconclusions that the union saysmake an overwhelming case forkeeping the operation of lifelineferry services in the publicsector.

It has found that Cal Mac hasoperated in an efficient,innovative and strategic way onthe current CHFS contract andhas shared with the Scottishgovernment all the benefits ofcost savings.

CalMac has the potential tobe a leader for the economy asa whole in delivering fair work,good quality work, training and

innovation, as well as a goodquality service to passengersand the public. Indeed, to aconsiderable degree, it wasfound that CalMac already isleading in these areas of theScottish economy.

In contrast, there was muchless evidence that SercoCaledonian could or would wishto play that role and itsmotivation and focus inwinning the CHFS tender isnaturally based on its status asa profit-seeking entity.

The report found that SercoGroup, owner of SercoNorthlink, has an extremelytroubled history in relation toits public sector contracts; it hasno significant experience in themaritime industry and itsfinancial health and businessmodel raise concerns.

The estimated costs oftendering remain very high inthe context of very limitedscope for cost savings in the

operation of the tender. RMT general secretary Mick

Cash said that it was a soberanalysis of the economic casefor keeping Cal Mac public inorder to preserve and increasethe considerable economicbenefits of publicly fundedservices, good employment andtraining standards already inplace.

“Scottish taxpayers, ferryworkers and passengers cannotafford these lifeline servicesbeing placed by the ScottishGovernment into the hands ofSerco who would seek to drainprofit from lifeline Scottish ferryservices,” he said.

RMT national secretary SteveTodd added that the report wasa ringing endorsement of thevital role that CalMac’s near1,500 employees play indelivering an efficient,affordable and popular lifelineferry service to Clyde andHebridean communities.

“The report justifies theScottish government’s decisionto invest hundreds of millions to2022 in new vessels, IT, portand harbour infrastructure,maritime skills and passengerfares on this complex, 26-routenetwork.

“Handing this jewel in thecrown to Serco would be ascandalous betrayal of workers,passengers and the Scottishtaxpayer,” he said.

RFA ACTION

REPORT BACKS KEEPINGCAL MAC PUBLIC


5

RMT has warned that theShaw Report on the future

of Network Rail leaves the dooropen FOR Tory ChancellorGeorge Osborne to set up a"smash and grab" raid on someof Britain's last remainingpublicly-owned rail assets.

Although the Shaw reportbalked at the idea of fullprivatisation after a strongunion campaign, RMT said thatpublicly-owned Network Railassets from stations to powerand other parts of theinfrastructure, are set up to beknocked out in a fire sale toprivate speculators leading tofurther fragmentation.

RMT general secretary MickCash said that although astrong union campaign hadfought off the prospect ofwholesale and earlyreprivatisation the Shaw Reportstill openED the door to a sell-

off. “This is the Tories looking to

knock down what's left of thefamily silver as Osbornescrambles to plug the gapingholes in his budget.

"Foreign speculators will bequeuing up again to plunderBritain's railways for every lastpenny in the same way as theyhave mopped up trainoperations and run them intothe ground.

“RMT will continue to fightany further attacks on NetworkRail and will continue tocampaign for public ownershipof the entire rail system.

“The government is alreadypreparing the sell-off ofelectrical power assets to globalspeculators.

“The latest moves came hoton the heels of plans to beginthe sell-off of £1.8 billion ofNR property assets including a

whole raft of high-profilerailway stations.

“The same global energycompanies who are currentlyrobbing Britain’s domesticpower customers blind are nowset to be unleashed on Britain’srailways with direconsequences.

“This is all about asset-stripping, fragmentation andprofiteering by globalcompanies at the expense ofrail services in the UK andwhere passengers are seen aslittle more than self-loadingfreight whose sole function isto generate share-holderprofits,” he said.

“The Network Rail proposalsare a mirror of the trainoperator franchises that havereduced the bulk of our servicesto nothing more than aprivatised cash-cow designed tounderpin rail operations in

other parts of Europe andaround the globe.

“The proliferation ofcontractors and sub-contractorsis already dragging NetworkRail’s performance down andthe flogging off of the powerassets would simply up the anteon the fragmentation that is theroot cause of many of the dailyproblems hitting services.

“RMT is in no doubt that thelatest NR plans are ideologicallydriven by the Government andare just the thin end of a longwedge designed to drag thepublicly-owned Network Railoperations back to the lethaldays of the privatised Railtrack.

“RMT will fight thisconcerted attack on ourmembers and the safety-criticalservices that they deliver,” hesaid.

SHAW REPORT“SMASH AND GRAB”

Union warns Network Rail report leavesthe door open to Tory sell-off

N


6

German state railwaysDeutsche Bahn subsidiary

Arriva will have theircontract for the Tyne andWear Metro ripped up withthe service being taken intodirect public control fromApril next year.

RMT general secretaryMick Cash said that it was amassive boost in the battlefor public ownership andcomes after years of hard

work and pressure from RMTmembers and officials acrossthe North East.

"RMT will now press forthe initial two year transitionto be turned into a permanentarrangement for this essentialpublic service.

"This proves that thecombination of a strongunion and a relentless publiccampaign is unstoppable," hesaid.

RMT has condemned thedecision by Transport for

London to hand busy LondonOverground services over tofailing rail privateer Arriva, asubsidiary of the German staterailway Deutsche Bahn.

RMT general secretary MickCash said that it was madness tohand LOROL services over to theGerman state as Arriva willhave their contract for the Tyneand Wear Metro ripped up withthe service being taken intodirect public control from Aprilnext year.

“The German state has

openly admitted that it will beusing profits from foreignfranchises to run rail services inGermany.

“It appears that thisgovernment is happy for otherstates to make profits from ourrail network but not this state,”he said.

A German Transportspokesperson stated in 2011:“We're skimming profit from theentire Deutsche Bahn andensuring that it is anchored inour budget - that way we canmake sure it is invested in therail network here in Germany”.

The Tory government hasawarded the Northern

franchise to the German staterailway company DeutscheBahn.

Local authorities in the Northof England through a bodycalled Rail North will jointlyoversee the franchise with thegovernment.

Since 2007 Northern Rail hassucked passengers dry to pay£179 million dividends to theprevious franchise owners Sercoand the Dutch state railway.

Now Arriva, owned by theGerman state railway DeutscheBahn, has been awarded the

Northern Rail contract and willbegin operations on April 1, sohelping to keep fares down inGermany.

Foreign state-owned railcompanies are using profitsearned through operatingfranchises in the UK to keepfares down and ensure railservices are better in theirrespective countries.

RMT general secretary MickCash said that the profits hadbeen acquired through everincreasing passenger faresmakes the need for domesticpublic ownership even moreclear.

“ Its time our governmentnationalised our railways,” hesaid.

According to Rail North’sown estimates passengerdemand for the North’s railwaywill soar by 50 per cent over thenext fifteen years.

Despite this, and the clearneed for investment, thegovernment has stated thatannual subsidy will be cut byover 50 per cent by the finalyear of the franchise.

This will be realised throughattacks on the quality of serviceavailable to passengers and theloss of hundreds of skilled,

safety critical railway jobs. For example, the new

operator is planning to removesafety trained guards from 50per cent of the network in thecoming years.

“To add insult to injury, at atime when train building in thiscountry is struggling to survivethe German State operator hasannounced their intention toorder new trains for thefranchise from a manufacturerin Spain.

“Something needs to be done– we need a nationalisedPeople’s Railway for the North,”said Mick Cash.

NORTHERN HANDED TODEUTSCHE BAHN

LOROL HANDED TOGERMAN STATE

TYNE ANDWEAR METROBACK IN-HOUSE


7

Following a massive RMT-ledcampaign the board of

London TravelWatch haveopposed all of GoviaThameslink Railways proposalsto shut or change openinghours at ticket offices inLondon.

GTR’s proposals would haveseen ticket office closures at 41stations in the LondonTravelWatch area and reducingthe hours at a further 14stations.

Thousands of passengerssent in RMT postcards inopposition to the proposals.The union also made directrepresentations in writing and

at the Board meeting.The union welcomed the

reprieve for the ticket officesand is seeking urgentclarification as to what thenext steps were and also whatthe decision of Transport Focusis for the 28 non-London Ticketoffices.

RMT has made clear that inlight of the decision by LondonTravel Watch, GTR should dropwhat the union has calledunworkable, unsafe andunpopular proposals. The unionhas also made it clear that thefight goes on and will not stopuntil the whole closure plan isscrapped.

RMT general secretary MickCash said that publiccampaigning, led by RMT, hadsecured a massive victory inthe on-going fight to stopticket office closures.

“However we still have along way to go and we mustkeep the pressure on and GoviaThameslink must now drop thewhole ill-conceived plan on allroutes both inside and outsidethe London area.

“These plans are driven bythe desire to de-staff ourrailways in the quest for profitand would unleash a wave ofticket office carnage across railfranchises that are already seen

as the basket-cases of Britain’sprivatised railway network.#

“It is clear that Goviacouldn’t give two hoots aboutpassenger services, jobs andsafety and are prepared to milkthese routes for every singlepenny that they can extractregardless of what thetravelling public think of them.

“The voice of staff and thetravelling public has rung outloud and clear through theRMT campaign and the fight toscrap the whole programme of83 ticket office downgradesand closures continues,” hesaid.

CLOSING? KEEPYOUR

STATIONTICKET OFFICE

AngmeringBarnhamBexhillBognor RegisBurgess HillChichesterCrawleyEastbourneEast GrinsteadFalmerHassocksHitchinHorshamHove

OPEN

HuntingdonKing’s LynnLancingLetchworth Garden CityLewesLittlehamptonPolegatePortsladeReigateRoyston SandyShoreham-by-SeaSt NeotsWorthing

CLOSING? KEEPYOUR

STATIONTICKET OFFICE

Alexandra PalaceAshteadBalhamBattersea ParkCarshaltonCarshalton BeechesCaterhamCity Thameslink(Holborn)City Thameslink(Ludgate Hill)Coulsdon SouthCricklewoodDenmark HillDorkingElstree &BorehamwoodEnfield ChaseEpsomFlitwick

Gipsy HillGordon HillHarpendenHatfieldHertford NorthHorleyHornseyLeagraveLeatherheadLoughborough JCTLuton Airport ParkwayMerstham

Mill Hill BroadwayNew BarnetNorburyOxtedPalmers GreenPeckham RyePotters BarPurley

OPEN

Queens Rd PeckhamRadlettSandersteadSelhurstSouth CroydonStevenageStreathamStreatham CommonStreatham HillSuttonTootingThornton HeathTulse HillWallingtonWandsworth CommonWelwyn Garden CityWest Hampstead

West NorwoodWinchmore Hill

TICKET OFFICECARNAGE BLOCKED


8

Around 400 train operatorsacross the Piccadilly Line

on London Underground tooksolid strike action this monthover a breakdown in industrialrelations combining a range ofissues.

Over 85 per cent of membershad voted for strike action withan even larger number votingfor action short of a strike.

The union had entered intotalks in good faith but a hostileand confrontational attitude byLUL corroded and finallycollapsed the negotiatingprocess.

The Piccadilly is the fourthbusiest line on the tube networktransporting an average of600,000 passengers a day andservices London’s Heathrow

airport – the busiest airport inEurope.

The ballot for action wascalled after a prolonged periodof industrial problems on theline – some of which have beendirectly related to seriousunderlying issues with the agingPiccadilly Line fleet.

Those issues have left driversin a vulnerable position andhave been used by managementas a tool to harass and threatenmembers through misuse of thedisciplinary procedure.

There has also been anappalling lack of consistency bylocal management when itcomes to addressing the long-running issues impacting on thePiccadilly Line and which RMT,as the main driver’s union, had

raised repeatedly over a numberof years.

RMT general secretary MickCash said that the hostile andaggressive attitude by tubebosses had collapsed the normalnegotiating process and next thestrike action goes ahead exactlyas planned.

“The wholesale abuse ofprocedures and agreements bymanagement on the PiccadillyLine is rife and amounts to thedevelopment of a campaign ofbullying, harassment andintimidation that the union willnot allow to continue.

“RMT will not sit back andallow individual members to bepicked off by a vindictive andaggressive management who arecontinuing to drag their heels

over addressing fundamentalsafety issues which leave staff ina vulnerable and exposedposition.

“RMT will not watch from theside lines while our members areboxed into a position where theyare left to take the rap forrepeated management failuresthat the union has been raisingfor years now.

“The combined weight ofthese abuses and failures hasbuilt up to a fundamentalcollapse in industrial relationsthat the company has donenothing to address and whichhas left RMT with no option butto call strike action followingthe overwhelming vote of by ourmembers,” he said.

PICCADILLYLINESTRIKE


I hope RMT members will notneed too much persuading thatLabour supporters should vote toLeave the EU in the June 23referendum. The union has ledopposition to EU policies and thelate Bob Crow was one of thestrongest advocates of thatcampaign.

The European Union is anti-democratic, anti-socialist andfailing economically. With lowand negative economic growth,25 per cent unemployment and50 per cent youth unemploymentin some member states, livingstandards cut by a quarter inGreece, forced privatisations andrestrictions on collectivebargaining rights as conditions ofbailouts, the true nature of theEU is now plain to see.

Free movement of labour isdesigned to simply reducewages and reduce wagebargaining strength. The Lavaland Viking Line cases where theEuropean Court ruled in favour ofemployers and against tradeunions made a nonsense of thesupposed EU Charter ofFundamental Rights and were aclear indicator of the directionsof travel being steered by theEU’s masters. Raising up themarket and market forcesagainst elective democracy wasevident from the start in itsoriginal name, the CommonMarket, and was opposed at thetime by British socialistsincluding Clement Attlee, NyeBevan and Hugh Gaitskell.

In a Commons debate in 1989,Tony Benn said, “I was broughtup to believe, and I still believe,that when people vote in anelection they must be entitled toknow that the party for whichthey vote, if it has a majority, willbe able to enact laws underwhich they will be governed.That is no longer true. Any partyelected, whether it is theConservative party or the Labourparty can no longer say to theelectorate, "Vote for me and if Ihave a majority I shall pass thatlaw," because if that law iscontrary to Common Market law,British judges will apply

Community law.”Labour’s policyof returning the railways to publicownership will becomeimpossible if the EU’s railwaypolicies are implemented. This isbizarre when German DeutscheBahn, the state railway ownsmuch of Britain’s public transportservices, with British passengerseffectively subsidising Berlincommuters.

The European Union projectmoved slowly and by stealth atfirst, later accelerating followingthe 1980s Single European Act.It was intended to promote theprogressive dismantling of thepost-war social democraticstructures which brought suchmassive benefits to millions ofworking people across WesternEurope.

The current secretivenegotiations to impose TTIP, theproposed EU/USA trade dealwhich would give massive powerto the giant private corporationsto be able to prosecutedemocratically elected memberstate governments is conclusiveproof – if proof were needed -about the true nature of the EU.

It is time for democratic memberstate governments once again tostand up for their peoples and toreject the EU. The UnitedKingdom has an opportunity totake the lead in that process byvoting “Leave” in the comingreferendum.

That being said, I alwaysemphasise that the EuropeanUnion is not Europe. Europe is asub-continent of great peoples,beautiful countries and superbculture. Democracy, socialismand trade unionism were allcreated in Europe. TheEuropean Union is simply apolitical construct covering manyof the countries of Europe. Wecan have a great Europe withoutthe EU, a Europe of internationalfriendship and solidarity whichwill not sell out working peopleto the global corporations.

Kelivin Hopkins is a member ofthe RMT Parliamentary Groupand the Labour LeaveCampaign

VOTE TOLEAVE

9

As London's largest tube unionRMT has called for

reassurances from LondonUnderground on the Night Tubesafety case, and a fair deal forTube Lines engineers, after theMayor confirmed a July start forthe project.

RMT LUL members haveoverwhelmingly backed a pay andconditions package that coversNight Tube and the union hassupported the idea of extendedrunning properly introducedthrough negotiation.

However, the union has yet tosee a full safety case and remainsin dispute over nearly 1,500 TubeLines maintenance staff who arecurrently being balloted for strikeaction.

RMT general secretary MickCash said that the dispute mayhave been settled for LUL staff onpay and conditions but the ideathat all of the outstanding issueshave been resolved, not least thesafety case and the Tube Linesengineers dispute, is simply nottrue.

"There are still significantconcerns over staff rosters andthose basic operational issueswould be fundamental to hittinga start date this summer. There isvery clearly some distance to goin terms of getting all of thecomponents in place.

"The whole project is beingconstructed against a backdrop ofTFL cuts and only a fool wouldpretend that those cuts do nothave an impact on theoperational model.

" Police concerns aboutincreased crime taking placeduring all-night running onFridays and Saturdays ".

"RMT remains fully engaged indelivering the Night Tube andfully committed to making surethat all of our members, includingTube Lines, are properly respectedand rewarded,” he said.

RMTDEMANDSFAIR DEALFOR NIGHTTUBE

Parliamentary column


10

SIGNALLERSORGANISE

Delegates meet at apacked national

industrial organisingsignallers and

operations conference

Assistant general secretary MickLynch outlined how rulechanges has created a nationalexecutive committee made up of12 full time general grademembers and four maritime andoffshore members.

He explained how theprimary role of branches wasthe recruitment and retention ofmembers and to organise regularbranch meetings as well asdrawing up a branch plan inorder to allow members to takepart in the life of the union.

“We need to encourage andtrain new members so they canfill union vacancies andparticipate in the union’scampaigns.

“How all these changes,which are all in the new rulebook, is up to the branch itselfto implement not head office.

“This conference will alsohave a role in developingstrategies in order to build theunion and feed ideas about howto assist members represented byyour grade,” he said.

Alan Pottage of the union’sorganising unit said that theunion membership hadcontinued to grow in manyareas with over 83,000 memberswhile other unions were indecline in the transport sectorbut RMT could not becomplacent.

“We need to carry outmapping exercises to find outwho is not in the union anddevelop strategies to get them inthe union,” he said.

Mick Lynch also warned thatNetwork Rail was being run-down and broken up by theTory government with the long-term aim of re-privatising therail network.

“They will be seeking tobreak up a national rail networkin order to hand them over totheir friends in the City and weneed to defend our nationalagreements,” he said.

He then outlined the pensionscontracting-out process enforcedby the Tory chancellor GeorgeOsborne which has led tochanges in the Network Railpension fund contributions.

Martin Russell, Stockport saidthat a clear explanation of theissue should appear in theunion’s journal RMT News (seepage 16/17).

Delegates called for a fulltime co-ordinator position to beenshrined within the agreedbargaining procedure which ashas been afforded to othergroups within Network Rail.

Tim Breed, North Staff saidthat the ongoing roll out of theNetwork Rail operating strategyand the continuing use ofworking parties on the

maintenance side meant that aco-ordinator was required inorder to represent signalworkers.

“The number, constituenciesand election procedures shouldbe determined by the union’snational executive committee,”he said.

Delegates also recorded“profound” objections tosecondments being used byNetwork Rail outside of theagreed recruitment policy forpromotional positions.

Tim Breed said that withthousands of jobs being lost bythe often-trumpeted nationaloperating strategy, allpromotional positions should beadvertised in the normal mannerwith the use of secondmentsonly being used for non-promotional, exhaustedvacancies.

“The use of secondments isdetrimental to the promotionalprospects of our members andplaces members at a distinctdisadvantage in the promotionrace in contravention of the NRequal opportunities policies,” hesaid.

Delegates also called on theunion to secure a shorter 32-hour working week forsignallers.

Nathan Gill, Wakefield andHealey Mills said that if therewere no serious talks on theissue then a dispute situationwill exist between union andNetwork Rail and a ballotmatrix be drawn up in readinessfor industrial action to achieveour goals.

Delegates called on the unionto find out the number ofsignalling and supervisorygrades were on fixed-termcontracts.

Robert Cross, Stockport andDistrict warned that suchcontracts could be used to bringin a two-tier membership by theback door.

“In cases when box closuresare put back then if suchcontracts are renewed, it leavesstaff at a disadvantage shouldthey stay until closure and thenhave to apply for other jobs onthe open list and not be coveredby PTR&R,” he said.

Mark Bellanie, North Staffs

also said that signallers shouldnot train managers and othersto do signalling work.

“We have an employmentclause which says we are onlyhere to instruct traineesignallers.

“We need a strategy to ensuremanagement cannot undermineany industrial action which maytake place anywhere in thecountry,” he said.

ROSTERS

Martin Russell called on theunion to raise the matter ofrelief staff being rostered aSaturday night turn, then aMonday early turn with only 24hours rest between.

“National rostering principlesprovide for 32 hours rest over amidweek rest day but this is notapplied over a Sunday.

“We consider that rest periodsover Sundays should be treatedthe same as midweek rest daysand members cannot beexpected to turn round fromnights to days and sleep twicewithin 24 hours,” he said.

Nathan Gill called on theunion to continue to support theright for staff to choose to worka 12-hour roster.

“With more and more signalboxes being re-located to theROCs and signallers alreadyhaving their lives disrupted, wefeel that if signallers choose thispattern of roster to give a betterwork/life balance,” he said.

Delegates said that the unionshould challenge the ruleforcing member to work anadditional hour.

Chris Bown, Wakefield andHealey Mills said that this wasenforced overtime which hadbeen abused by management.

“How in this age of bothparents-working families, can acompany force an individual towork an additional hour eitherend of their shift withsometimes very little notice?” heasked.

Phil Boorman, Ashford saidthat legal opinion had beensought and the issue had beendealt in a draft agreement andwould be only used underemergency conditions.


11

Signallers and operational grades meet in Perth discussorganisational and industrial issues


12

Doncaster hosts annual RMT NationalHealth and Safety conference which

discussed cancer in the workplace

CANCER AND THE

WORKPLACE

RMT national health and safetyconference chair Iain Mintowelcomed delegates who turnedout in great numbers for thispopular event before leadingeveryone into a moment’ssilence for victims of workplaceaccidents.

This gesture was givenfurther impact this yearfollowing on so shortly after thenews of the tragic deaths ofdemolition workers at the DidcotPower-station.

This year’s conference themewas cancer in the workplaceand delegates were each given acopy of RMT publicationsDanger Dust and OccupationalCancer – a workplace guide.

Senior assistant generalsecretary Steve Hedley spokeabout the vital importance ofhealth and safety and the workour safety reps perform.

Steve cited the recent Section15 dispute on LondonUnderground as a primeexample of employer’s potentialnegligence being derailed onhealth and safety grounds.

It was his belief that thework of health and safety repswill become ever more prevalent

in the light of the proposedanti-trade union legislationcurrently working its waythrough Parliament.

“In April some of the mostappalling and draconianlegislation since 1927, a yearafter the general strike, thatgoes further even than MargaretThatcher, will be introduced,” hesaid.

He spoke of the need to“utilise every tool in our box”for getting the vote out giventhe likely new ballot minimumturnout thresholds.

He warned that increasinglyhealth and safety legislation willbe used to fight futuregovernment attacks on workers.Steve spoke of the difficulty theunion will face when trying torun legitimate ballots and ofhow this legislation was totallyundemocratic.

He paid tribute to all RMThealth and safety reps for thehard work they do but also ofthe need for them to go backinto their workplaces and towork in conjunction withindustrial reps to recruit newmembers and to be a visiblepresence.

“This is how we retain ourmembership and it is proventhat we gain more concessionsfrom employers in workplacesthat have a high density ofunion membership.

“You need to go back to theworkplace and ensure peoplehave the utmost protection, andthat is by joining the RMT,” hesaid.

John Jo Carruthers, CarlisleCity branch gave an extremelymoving speech to delegatesabout the Tebay tragedy and thefamily’s battle for justice.

“The families who lost theirloved ones and the branch haverequested that I speak and thankconference for their unyieldingsupport without which thefamilies would have given up,but now they have rear-guardprotection in place,” he said.

He spoke of how the rolling-out of the Vortok rear-guardsecondary protection had onlyhappened because the union hadwarned Network Rail that theywere in dispute over this matter

and that this had forced theirhand.

This system is now beingtrialled and that over 200people had now been trained inits use. John Jo concluded byasking that delegates “ask attheir workplace for Vortok rear-guard secondary protection tobe implemented in memory ofthose poor lads who went out todo a day’s work but who nevercame home; knock onmanagement’s door and demandthe rear guard protection”.

Chris Skidmore from theNational Union of Mineworkers,Yorkshire region gave aninsightful speech about theIndustrial Injuries Scheme runby the DWP.

This provides compensationto injured workers or thosesuffering from work relatedillnesses, and he described howhis union had made numerousenquiries to the IndustrialInjuries Advisory Committee inorder that medical conditions beresearched and included in theIndustrial Injuries Scheme.

He spoke of the numbers offellow miners that havecontracted lung disease throughtheir work in a pit and of howhard it can be to establish aclaim as the registered medicalpractitioners that claimants aresent to see are not medicalexperts and will not haveknowledge of the job you do orthe nuances of it.

He advised RMT reps toaccompany members to theseinterviews to ensure an accuraterecord is established and to refermore industrial illnesses to theIIAC for them to commissionresearch into.

RMT legal officer KarenMitchell also spoke about theIAAC of which she is a member.RMT can refer issues to theIAAC for its consideration. Thecommittee’s function is toadvise government and to assistin the formulation of newlegislation.

Karen also spoke of theIndustrial Injuries Scheme andhow it provides compensation tothose who become ill throughwork, be it via accident ordisease.

An accident is an unlawfulincident that leads to a workerbeing unable to work whilstillness is for work relateddiseases. The scheme providescompensation for employedworkers only, not self-employedand benefits will be receivedafter 90 days disablement.Payments are made on loss offunction rather than loss ofearnings and only if you aredeemed as at being at least 14per cent disabled.

Karen gave a very detailedoverview of the function of theIIAC and urged members torequest that issues be referred toit, particularly so that moreresearch could be done into thelinks between diesel fumes andcancer and the Musculoskeletaldisorders that can occur fromregularly walking long distancesover ballast.

Stephanie Fitzgerald from theRail Safety and Standards Board(RSSB), formerly a consultantclinical psychologist, gaveadvice to delegates on workingwith and supporting colleagueswho had been diagnosed withcancer. She provided a guide fordelegates in dealing withsensitive issues and the best,and most appropriate, responsesto them.

Delegates debated threeresolutions. One delat withrosters – split shifts and fatiguefrom Edinburgh No1 andPortobello branch which calledfor the union to highlight thedangers of fatigue sufferedthrough these rosters:

A successful motion from LUEngineering dealt with the deathof Scott Dobson and called for acampaign to be launched jointlyon London Underground andNetwork Rail focusing on healthand safety on the track.

Central and North Merseybranch raised the issue ofuntrained staff carrying outsafety duties; this called for theending of the practices of trainoperating companies,specifically in this caseMerseyrail, from usinguntrained staff being employedto carry out station staff duties.


13


14

The newly-renamed industrialorganising conference of hotel,catering and ancillary gradesmet in Weymouth this monthto discuss union recruitment.

Assistant general secretarySteve Hedley said that anorganising strategy wasrequired for catering staff on-board trains and on thestations.

“We have got recognitionwith SSP and these workers,some of them working inVictorian conditions,desperately need a union.

“We have seen attacks onticket offices on LondonUnderground and now acrosssouthern England.

“So we are going to need toorganise to stop further attackson this grade,” he said.

Steve Conway, Leeds Citysaid that SSP, a company witha £1.8 billion turnover, werenot paying meal breaks to newstaff and were forcing staff to

buy their own uniforms.“We have four different

contracts for just 47 staff,” hesaid.

Delegates agreed that staffshould not be forced to buytheir own uniforms and thatthe company must provideprotective equipment includingany form of uniform.

Steve Hedley said that anyorganising strategy mustinclude the branches andregional councils getting outand recruiting these vulnerableworkers.

He said that many trainoperating companies franchiseswere coming up for renewal.

“On Great Western Railway(GWR) trains we need to bemaking the business case for abuffet car on every train.

“Trolleys are dangerous andon packed trains passengersoften get no service at all.

“This is on some of the mostexpensive rail services in the

world,” he said. Steve Harvey, Plymouth No1

said that there had been severalincidents on GWR serviceswhere injuries have beencaused by unstable and poorlydesigned trolleys.

“Risk assessments have beencarried out but these do nottake into account abnormaljolts and movement that occurevery day on the rail network.

“We have had trolleysfalling over and they are heavyand require a lot of strengthparticularly between carriages,”he said.

Delegates called on all traincompanies to provide minimumstandard of trolley design thatwill withstand all types ofoperation.

Conference also called theTOCs to provide a safe place ofrefuge accessible to allmembers operating trolleyprovision on all rolling stock.

RMT executive committee

member Kathy Mazur alsowarned that the upcoming railfranchising process will lead tomore cuts in services in thedrive for profit.

Derek England, Leeds Citycalled on the union tonegotiate with any food-handling employers that staffshould not lose money if theyare required by law to beabsent.

“It is unacceptable that staffshould incur financial lossesdue to being infected with adisease which is not their fault.

“Such staff must absentthemselves from work for aminimum of 48 hours and thuslosing their attendanceallowance.

“Who else losing wages bycomplying with the law of theland?” he asked.

Delegates agreed that theunion should take up this issuewith the companies involved.

ORGANISING FOR CATERING Catering grades meet to discuss strategiesto organise workers into the union


16

As a result of governmentlegislation, in the form of

The Pension Act 2014 – SingleTier State Pension, DefinedBenefit pension schemes such asthe Railways Pension Schemewill no longer be able tocontract-out of the second statepension (S2P).

On April 6 2016 “contractingout” of the S2P will end. This isthe practise whereby if aworkplace pension meets certaincriteria (benefits are generousenough), individuals are optedout of paying into the S2P. TheRPS is currently contracted-out.

This means that the companyand employees receive aNational Insurance Contribution(NIC) rebate.

The government is nowgetting rid of the S2P and willintroduce a new flat rate SingleTier State Pension. This willmean that there is nothing toopt-out of and thereforecontracting-out will cease. Inturn both members andemployers will pay higher NICs.

Employers will no longerreceive their NIC rebate of 3.4per cent in respect of employeeearnings between the Lower

Earnings Limit (LEL) and theUpper Accrual Point (UAP).Employees will see their NICincrease by 1.4 per cent betweenthese two thresholds.

To help employers deal withthis additional cost, thegovernment has given thempowers to impose changes toschemes to increase employeecontributions or /and reducebenefits, in order to recoup theadditional costs they will face.

The government hasintroduced legislation which willallow employers to bypasstrustee agreement to recoup

their NIC rebate from themembers’ benefits. Please notethey can only recoup theadditional costs associated tothese changes.

While employers will receive“special treatment” allowingthem a free hand to recoup theirrebate, members could see anystate pension gains wiped outby having their occupationalbenefits reduced for futureservice.

RMT has been campaigningto get the override removedfrom the pension bill via ourParliamentary Group. The union

YOUR PENSION Understanding the latestdevelopments in contracting out

has also met with the PensionsMinister and the Department forWorks and Pensions on anumber of occasions.Regrettably this has beenunsuccessful.

Train Operating Companies(TOCs) and Network Rail wish torecoup their additional payrollcosts associated to theContracting-Out in respect ofthe Railways Pension Scheme(RPS). As a result RMT andother unions were in discussionsthroughout last year with theseemployers to try and findagreements which would reducethe impact on our members andalso protect core future servicebenefits.

SOME OF THE OPTIONSMANAGEMENT PROPOSEDINCLUDED:

- aligning the NormalRetirement Age to the StatePension Age (60 to 68)

- capping pensionable pay atCPI

- withdrawal of the separatelump sum

- changing the rate of accrualfrom 60ths to 80ths.

None of these proposals wereacceptable to the union.However following discussionswith TOCs through the InformalPensions Working Group (IPWG)and Network Rail the followingproposals have been endorsedby the union’s nationalexecutive committee:

TOCS

1. Cost neutral early retirementfactors (CNERF) to be appliedfor future service only fromAge 60 to 62

CNERF will be applied up toage 62 for all non-protectedmembers only. Benefitsearned prior to April 1 2016will not be affected.Members can still retire atthe same age, but benefitsaccrued after April 1 2016will be reduced on a costneutral basis

2. Pensionable Pay Cap of RPI+ 0.25 per cent

For pay reviews on or afterApril 1 2016 a pensionablepay cap of RPI plus 0.25 per

cent will be applied. Thisaffects all RPS members.

Pay increases above the capwill be for future serviceonly and will therefore betreated in the same way as aPensionable RestructuringPremium (PRP)

As a result of these proposalsthe contribution rate in all caseswill reduce for members

Management have informedus that the estimated additionalpayroll cost for all TOCs perannum will be in the region of£53 million.

Based on the proposalsalready received by RMT, theadditional payroll costs onaggregate so far are estimated tobe £50.9 million per annum.This is based on maximum bandearnings for all members.

The agreed IPWG proposals,which have been verified by thescheme actuary, have recoupedfor these employers anaggregate estimated to be £36million. Therefore employershave only recouped just over 70per cent of their additionalpayroll costs resulting from theIPWG framework.

NETWORK RAIL

Network Rail initially informedthe union that its estimatedadditional payroll costs resultingfrom the ending of contracting-out would be in the region of£27 million per annum. Thisfigure was later reduced to £24million per annum following

meetings with management.Resulting from the discussionsthe following proposals wereagreed:

Network Rail RPS60 & RPS65Sections members have twooptions-:

OPTION A: Pensionable Pay Capto reduce from RPI + 0.5 percent to a Flat Rate RPI

Any pay award above RPIwill be non-pensionable.This is the default positionfor those that wish tomaintain their currentcontribution rate at 9.36 percent

OPTION B: Pensionable Pay Capto reduce from RPI + 0.5 percent to RPI with any pay increase above the cap to bepensionable for futureservice only

This option is for those whowish to pay a highercontribution rate, 9.36 percent to 11.14 per cent, onthe basis that pay awardsmay be above RPI goingforward.

It is estimated that theseproposals will recoup just over£15 million per annum in cashterms, less 63 per cent of theemployers additional payrollcosts.

While the above agreementsreached with the TOC IPWG andNetwork Rail many otheremployers where the union hasmembers have also said that

they will be recouping their NICrebate. These employers includeFreightliner, Forth Ports andNetwork Rail in respect of theirCARE Pension Scheme.

However, not all employersare passing on their additionalpayroll costs to their employees.Eurostar and Wightlink Ferrieshave both informed the unionthat they will not be recoupingtheir NIC rebate which iswelcomed by this union butunfortunately these employersare in the minority.

It is clear that as a result ofTory chancellor GeorgeOsborne’s decision to make acash grab to fund the newSingle Tier State Pension thisunion has had to make difficultdecisions to try and protectmembers’ pensions. Withoutreaching a negotiated positionthe government has givenemployers the power to imposechanges on schemes withoutagreement.

Therefore it was crucial thatthe union tried to find a set ofproposals that mitigated theworse of the employer’s ideas.These proposals havemaintained contributions at areasonable rate and keptvaluable Defined Benefits on afinal salary basis which wasachieved by agreement.

All the proposals mentionedabove can be found on the RMTWebsite at

https://www.rmt.org.uk/about/pensions/


17

Please note the following RPS sections are affected by this proposal but not all at the time of writing have approached the unionwith their intentions. The employers who have submitted their proposals to the union’s executive are highlighted in bold:

Anglia Railways Arriva Trains Wales c2c Rail Chiltern Railway Ltd

Chiltern Railway East Coast Main Line East Midlands Govia: (Maintenance) Thameslink: GTR

FCC HeritageSouthern

First Great Western First ScotRail Great Eastern Railway Island Line

London & South Eastern London Eastern Railway London Midland London OvergroundRailway Limited (West Anglia)

Merseyrail MTR Crossrail New Cross Country Northern (ex North East)

Northern (ex North West) South West Trains TransPennine Express TransPennine Express (Former ATN) (Former NWT)


18

THESILENTKILLER


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RMT members know the horrorsof coming into contact withAsbestos as transport workershave historically been exposedto the substance and itscomponent materials and partsacross all sectors where weorganise.

Workers in the construction,shipping, automotive andrailway industries who havebeen exposed to asbestos are atparticularly high risk fordeveloping asbestos diseasessuch as asbestosis, asbestospleural disease, mesothelioma,and lung cancer. Any exposureto asbestos increases a person'schance of contractingmesothelioma.

The truth of the matter isthat Asbestos is everywhere andit comes with a prejudice and afear, as any causation to illnesswill be deadly, with incubationperiods of up to 40 and moreyears you can understand whyit is called the ‘silent killer’.

It is estimated that there areat least around 2,000 deaths ayear from lung cancer causedby asbestos exposure. In 2013there were 2,538 deaths causedby mesothelioma and on top ofthat in 2012 there were 464deaths where asbestosis wasthought to be a contributoryfactor. 85 per cent of thesedeaths are associated with work.

The HSE expect deathsassociated with asbestos tocontinue to increase until 2020and then fall off as the impactof the ban as a result of theintroduction of legislation torestrict asbestos exposure. Bythen around a quarter of amillion people will have died.

Asbestos exposure at a jobsite is a major health problem.While the risks of developing anasbestos related health conditionare low the chance ofdeveloping such a diseasedepends on certain conditionscalled risk factors. The first riskfactor is how much asbestos wasin the air you breathed, or the

"concentration." The second risk factor is the

cumulative length of allexposures or "duration." Theasbestos disease risk factors ofconcentration and durationestablish a person's "dose",which is a combination ofconcentration and duration.Asbestos diseases follow a"dose-response" relationshipcurve. This means that the moreasbestos you inhale (dose), thegreater your risk of contractingan asbestos-related disease.

After trade unions and healthand safety campaignersidentified the dangers toworkers legislation was finallyput in place to protect thosewho were made ill by theirexposure to asbestos, as well asthose who might still encounterthe material, which remains inbuildings throughout thecountry. Asbestos prohibitionlaws in the United Kingdomwere first introduced in the mid-1980s but a final ban didn’tcome in until 1999.

The current Control ofAsbestos Regulations 2012updated previous regulationsand these Regulations compelemployers to take the followingactions to protect their workers:• Carry out of risk assessments

• Establish whether there’sasbestos on premises, theamount and the condition.

• Have up-to-date records ofthe location and condition ofany asbestos.

• Prepare and implement plansfor asbestos riskmanagement.

• Review and monitor theasbestos plan.

• Presume materials containasbestos, unless there’sevidence that it doesn’t.

• Provide information onlocation and condition ofasbestos to relevant partiesincluding to staff working inthe premises.

RMT established an asbestosregister for members who havebeen exposed to asbestos atwork. It is important to stressthat just because someone hasbeen exposed to asbestos, itdoes not mean that they willnecessarily develop anycondition because of it. But bycollecting information now onpast employment history for allthose members who suspect thatthey may have been exposed toasbestos, RMT aims to assist anyfuture claims for compensation.All enquiries relating to theregister should be made toThompsons on 0800 587 7516.Retired members should also beadvised of the register so thatthey can report past exposure asappropriate.

RMT also provides its healthand safety representatives withinformation and support in howto act when asbestos is found inworkplaces. The theme of this

year’s RMT health and safetyconference was cancer anddelegates were all provided witha new RMT/TUC publication onOccupational Cancer.

The pamphlet reports anotable success at Network Railin Sussex where now- retiredRMT member Greg Hewittcampaigned vigorously for theremoval of asbestos-containingmaterial from S&T boxes in hisarea. Eventually Network Railwas forced to allocate £16million for this important work.

RMT has also helpedrepresentatives on TOCs dealwith rolling-stock whereasbestos was found in brakecomponents in the First CapitalConnect and Southern fleets, atForth Ports where asbestos wasfound on the Leith Tugs and atEuston Station where the ORReventually took enforcementaction against Network Rail.

RMT launches national campaign toeradicate Abestos from the work place

RMT women urged the unionto develop a quarterly

women’s organising week toencourage more diversity at alllevels of the organisation.

In an action packed twodays, members from across thecountry descended onScarborough in March to discusskey issues facing womenmembers.

Issues around safety on thetransport system and women’srole within the union were topof the list.

Moving the unanimouslypassed motion on women’sorganising, Central Line Eastbranch delegate, Jennifer Blanesaid: “It is important thatmembers and potential memberssee the RMT as a diverse unionwhich includes people like them.However there are no femaleRMT organisers.

“We ask the union toorganise a quarterly women’sorganising week, with centralfunding for members of theNational Women’s AdvisoryCommittee to have release fromwork to visit workplaces andtake part in organisingactivities,” she said.

NEC member Kathy Mazursaid it was vital the union

carried on its great workorganising low paid contractedout workers and urged womenmembers to be militant whenchallenging the bosses.

She recalled a time when shewas escorted off Euston stationafter attempting to deal with aworkplace dispute.

Referring to late generalsecretary Bob Crow, she said: “Iwas incensed, but Bob backedme all the way,” to applausefrom conference.

Conference also urged theunion to highlight the role ofthe women’s committeeincluding sending out a newupdated version of the union’s

women’s charter. Assistant general secretary

Mick Lynch encouraged womenmembers to become moreinvolved pointing out that hewas elected to office directlyfrom the rank and file.

“I do think our union isunique, I was working as anelectrician this time last year. Idon’t think there is anotherunion in this country whowould elect someone directlyfrom the shop floor into aleadership position such as this,”he said.

Recalling his experience oforganising on Eurostar, after hewas blacklisted from the

construction industry, Mr Lynchsaid: “I got the job to get a bitof real money and keep myhead down but there was nounion so we built one and nowI am here.”

“We want every woman to berepresented in this union and tohave union officers who arewomen too.

“We want our executive to bepopulated with women memberswho are confident and strongand who have faith in thestructures which we aredeveloping. It is improving. It isnot improving as quickly as itshould do but it is improving,”he said.


20

WOMEN ORGANISING

RMT at women’s TUC DELEGATES: from left to right Janine Booth, AnnMooney, Millie Apedo-Amah, Jennifer Gray, ChristineWillett, Cat Cray, Katherine Burke, Shirley Fulton,Mary Jane Herbison, Ann Joss, Kathleen Gaughan,Eileen Orrell. A full report will appear in the nextissue of RMT News.


21

President’s column

I recently joined with nationalexecutive committee members andofficers to stand with junior doctorson the picket lines at their localhospital in Euston to show solidarityat this crucial point in their fight forjustice.

RMT stands in full support of ourjunior doctors as once again theyare forced to take industrial action indefence of the basic principle ofdecent working conditions for NHSstaff who work round the clocksaving lives.

The NHS is the cornerstone of thepost-war welfare state and it falls tothe entire trade union movement toline up alongside those prepared totake action to defend it.

This wonderful service is not onlyunder attack from the Tories but bya secretive EU/US ‘trade deal’ calledthe Trade and InvestmentPartnership (TTIP).

This deal would institutionaliseirreversible mass privatisation ofpublic services that working peoplerely on and create secret courts thatwould allow transnationalcorporations to sue nation states forhuge sums of.

This is one more reason to vote toleave the EU on June 23.

Conference season is upon us andwe have the new concept oforganising conferences up andrunning. It will be interesting to seehow these are received anddeveloped going forward by you themembers.

My first conference as presidentwas the young members’conference held in Canterbury.Conference president GeorgeWaterhouse and vice-presidentChris Hodds both did a sterling jobof running affairs before theyhanded over their positions to LornaTooley and Dom Hill who I’m surewill continue the good work.

Judging by how the delegatesconducted themselves the future ofthe union is safe in their hands.

I was warned that the night out withthe young members is "legendary"but I have to admit that my stayingpower isn’t what it once was andI’m sure I was first to call it a night!

The organising conference ofsupervisory clerical and othersalaried grades took me to GreatYarmouth. It was a well organisedevent with Michael Campbell aspresident and Richard Walker assecretary at the helm.

I also attended South Hants andEastleigh Workshops branch alongwith the senior assistant generalsecretary. It was a pleasure topresent long service awards to anumber of members, including anold friend; Steve Riggott and two50-year members.

I’m also pleased to say that our new50-year membership badge will beavailable shortly.

“A man is but the product of histhoughts. What he thinks, hebecomes." Gandhi

In Solidarity, Sean Hoyle

SOLIDARITYDear editor, I have just returned fromattending the RMT nationalwomen's advisoryconference which was the25th anniversary of themeeting held in 1992. I found this out thanks tosister Ann Henderson whofound a copy of theTransport Review datedMay 22, 1992.The women's advisorycommittee was set up in1988 and at the conferenceour now general secretaryMick Cash, who was thenan executive member, gavea report on the progressmade since the inaugurationof the NWAC. At that conference a manchaired but rest assuredthat was soon put right. Atthat time 18 DistrictCouncils were representedand female members wereurged to put themselvesforward and fill vacancies.The committee campaignedon sexual harassment andguidelines on how to handlecases was put on all repscourses. A resolution fromNeasden 3 branch urged theexecutive to commission astudy of pay scales toidentify where equal valueclaims could be fought.RMT president at that timewas John Cogger and theassistant general secretarywas Wilf Proudfoot whochaired this first conferenceand foresaw a difficultperiod ahead for womenafter Labour's electiondefeat. The Tories had made itclear that they intended toencroach in all aspects ofpassenger service, somethings don't change.I was fortunate to attendthat conference and everyone since and it would beinteresting to know whereare the women whoattended that first meeting.Each conference seems toget bigger attendance andlong may it continue but thefight goes on and someissues never seem to goaway.

Janet CassidyNorth Clyde Branch

25 YEARS OFWOMEN’SCONFERENCE


22


23

LEGAL

The RMT legal department andLondon Underground workerMark Harding have secured ahigh court declaration fromBritish Transport Police that itwas wrong to impose arestriction on Mr Harding’strade union involvement as partof the bail conditions attachedto his arrest, for picket lineactivity in 2014.

British Transport Policeconceded that: “It is herebydeclared that, in all thecircumstances, the impositionof the bail conditions imposedon the Claimant on the eveningof February 6th 2014 at6.55pm, and which remained inplace until February 10th 2014,amounted to a breach of hisrights under Articles 10 and 11

of the European Convention ofHuman Rights.”

Mark Harding had alreadybeen found not guilty ofcharges brought against him.

He was accused of trying tointimidate a supervisor into notcrossing the picket line atHammersmith during industrialaction in February 2014 overTube ticket office closures.

British Transport Policebrought a case under the 1992Trade Union and LabourRelations Act, as amended bythe Serious Organised Crimeand Police Act 2005.

Over 20 MPs and tradeunion leaders issued a jointstatement of support for Markin a case that would haveintensified UK anti-trade union

laws and effectively madepicketing illegal.

A joint letter said that theywere “dismayed that the arrestappears to have politicalconnotations in that MrHarding was arrested by the useof trade union legislation andheld in custody for 13 hours”.

Mr Harding said that it was“clearly a politically motivatedcase.

"It is scandalous that somuch public money has beenwasted as I did nothing wrong-all I did was ask someone notto cross a picket line.

"This is an importantvictory, not just for RMT butfor the whole trade unionmovement, and has significantimplications for every single

trade unionist taking actionand seeking to picketeffectively at the workplace.”he said.

RMT general secretary MickCash said that the unionwelcomed the latest victory inthe long-running case.

“This is an important victoryfor Mr Harding, the union, thelegal department and the tradeunion movement in general asthis declaration can be pointedto should there be any futurepolice infringement upon tradeunion activity as part of bailconditions, which is particularlyrelevant given the proposals tocriminalise picketing as part ofthe proposed Trade Union Bill,”he said.

VINDICATION FORMARK HARDING


24

KEEPING YOUR MEMBERSHIPDETAILS ACCURATE ONLINE(SCREEN SHOT 1)

Are you one of the thousands ofRMT members whom regularlyvisit the RMT website and loginto the area exclusively availableto you? If you are, you willknow that you have the abilityto check and amend the detailsRMT holds for you on themembership database byclicking on ‘Your Profile’.

It is in everyone’s interestthat the union’s records are upto date, particularly yourcontact and employment details,absolutely vital for safeindustrial action ballots andelections and to ensure theUnion keeps in contact withyou, especially when there is aneed to urgently advise you ofanything that directly affectsyou as a member. So if youdon’t already do so, you areurged to login to the members’area as often as you can. Apartfrom keeping your membershipdetails up to date, there is awhole host of other informationand news available to you as anRMT member.

The current web membershipfacility has been in operationsince early 2008 and has proveninvaluable in RMT’s efforts tomaintain accurate records.

Apart from members keepingtheir own details up to date,branch and regional councilofficials have been able toaccess and maintain the recordsof their members and use theinformation to help organiseand recruit as well ascommunicate with activists, reps

and individuals. On the back ofan extensive trainingprogramme over the past sevenyears, it has been a hugesuccess.

MOVING FORWARD

Technology moves on and theunion does not stand still whenit comes to improving efficiencyand the service provided tomembers and officials. Underthe banner of the NMS, (NewMembership Software), Project,a major upgrade to the union’smembership records system isbeing developed, using the verylatest web technology whichshould provide the union withfuture-proofing for the next tenyears and beyond. It isequivalent to having acompletely new membershipsystem for a small fraction ofthe cost and the new webmembership facility,(eMembership), is the first phaseof the development.

SO WHAT’S CHANGED?MembersThe first page a member sees,setting out their contact andemployment detail on themembership system, contact andmeeting details of their branchand with links to the branchand regional council websitewhere available, will lookdifferent but still holds the sameinformation. Members will stillneed to confirm or amend theirdetail before proceeding, once amonth.

The big change is instead ofhaving to select various menuitems to find the detail you

require to amend, ineMembership, the main andimportant detail can be viewedand amended in one screen withadditional information in oneother area. Much simpler andeasier to edit.

(SCREEN SHOT 2)You will also be able to viewthe training courses programmeand see a record of your ownattendance as well as any Unionbenefits you have been paid.

BRANCH/REGIONAL COUNCILOFFICIALS

The current web membershipis already a powerful organisingand communication tool. To saythat eMembership is essential toorganisation, recruitment andretention and vital to the day today running of a branch wouldbe a very bold statement tomake but it is fair to say thiswould not be too far wide of themark. For this reason, the unionhas decreed that at least oneofficial from every branch mustattend a training course in theextensive programme, scheduledto take place over the nextcouple of years.

Whereas in the currentfacility it is more or lessnecessary to output lists for anynumber of purposes,eMembership almost entirelyremoves that requirement andmost tasks can be carried outon-screen. You select what datacolumns you want to see andyou can easily move to thedetails of members in the list forediting. This applies tomaintaining activists within the

branch and regional council too.If it is absolutely necessary toprint a list, (see data protectionbelow), you output what you seeon screen so again the columnsare under your control.

(SCREEN SHOT 3)For communications you nolonger have to output lists andgo through the mail mergeroutine. You can simply write tomembers or e-mail them, (orboth), directly fromeMembership.

You can see totals in groupsand categories within theBranch and view and print piecharts, (other graphs to follow).

One of the main benefits isthat eMembership can be easilyused on i-pads and othertablets.

There is much more in thenew facility and branches andregional councils will havealready received details,including the trainingprogramme. It really isnecessary to get every Branchusing eMembership and thoseattending courses will be urgedto spread the word amongsttheir branch and regionalcouncil colleagues. RMT willpromote eMembership and thetraining programme at everyopportunity.

DATA PROTECTION

The Union has always takenthe security of data extremelyseriously and confidentiality isthe watchword. For some timenow, RMT has been undertakinga comprehensive review of its ITand data protection policies and

eMEMBERSHIPIS HERE!

Web Membership is Changing


25

NB: Some of the column headings shown are not relevant to RMT and will be removed.

NB: Further changes may be made to this screen prior to going live.

NB: Further changes may be made to this screen prior to going live.

procedures and this will forma separate module within theeMembership training. Alongwith specific instructions onhow to store and treat data,officials will be emphaticallyurged to only outputmembership details if it isabsolutely necessary and thenhow they should treat thatinformation. The ease andpracticality of on-screenworking means that in almostevery case it isn’t necessary todo so.

The current webmembership will continuealongside the new one andwhilst all members will accesstheir own detail in the newweb facility, branch andregional council officials willonly have access to therecords of their members ineMembership once they havebeen successfully trained in itsuse and have signed astatement accepting theirresponsibilities under the DataProtection Act.

Just to reassure members,whilst for ease ofidentification of individuals,officials will be able to selectNational Insurance numberand date of birth on-screen aswell as contact phone and e-mail, they will never be ableto output that information.

WHEN WILL EMEMBERSHIP BEAVAILABLE?

eMembership has been more orless ready to go live for awhile now but the Uniondidn’t want members to loginand suddenly be faced withsomething different withouttelling you.

The intention is to make itlive in mid-April wheneveryone should have receivedthis edition of RMT News. It isalso intended to send you ane-mail as soon as it isavailable and to place amessage in the members’ areaof the website. Your union issure you will findeMembership much easier touse and it will help you tohelp RMT by keeping yourmembership detail accurateand up to date.

SCREEN SHOT 1

SCREEN SHOT 2

SCREEN SHOT 3


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Workers Memorial Day is heldon April 28 every year, all overthe world workers and theirrepresentatives conduct events,demonstrations, vigils and awhole host of other activitiesto mark the day. The day isalso intended to serve as arallying cry to “remember thedead, but fight for the living”.

This year the theme for theday is "Strong Laws - StrongEnforcement - Strong Unions".Across the world we are seeinggrowing attacks on health andsafety protection, including inBritain where the Governmenthave removed protection frommillions of self-employedworkers, and across Europewhere the EuropeanCommission are pursuing adangerous de-regulatorystrategy.

However, strong laws are

not enough if they are notgoing to be enforced. That iswhy we need properinspections and enforcementaction against those who breakthe law.

Here in the UK the numberof inspections has fallendramatically in the past fiveyears, however in many othercountries enforcement hasalways been non-existent.

That is why we also needstrong unions. Unionisedworkplaces are safer, yet thegovernment is trying to stopunions protecting the healthand safety of their members byrestricting the right of healthand safety representatives totake time off to keep theworkplace safer, and alsotrying to reduce our right tostrike when things go wrong.

APRIL 28 2015 International Workers Memorial Day rally beside the Building Worker statue, Tower Hill, London

WORKERS MEMORIALDAY –APRIL 28 2016Strong LawsStrong EnforcementStrong Unions


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Young member Chair GeorgeWaterhouse welcomeddelegates to conference andpresented an overview of thework of the youth advisoryover the last 12 months.

Conference also heard fromthe union’s organising unitmembers Bill Paterson andAlan Pottage on the success oforganising young membersover recent years and the needto keep this work to ensure thenext generation of RMTactivists and officials are inplace.

Senior assistant generalsecretary Steve Hedleypresented an overview of thecurrent issues facing the unionand its membership. He gave ascathing analysis of theproposed Trade Union Bill thatis the most pernicious attackon trade unions in decades.

He also set out the RMT ofsupporting UK withdrawalfrom EU membership and theimportance of this referendumthat will almost certainly notbe repeated in a lifetime.

Newly-elected RMTpresident Sean Hoyle gave hisfirst RMT conference addressin the position. Sean gave awide ranging contribution on

both the problems facing theUnion but also the successfulfighting back strategies thathad brought victories for ourmembers and the widermovement.

Conference members set alist of priorities and tasks forthe coming months and agreedtwo resolutions that will go tothe 2016 AGM, on the ‘livingwage’ and ‘internationalorganising issues’. Debates onstructures and the need toproduce neworganising/education materialsled to six further resolutionsbeing submitted to the NEC fortheir consideration.

Conference was felt to be ahuge success both during thedebates as well as the ‘lively’evening sessions!

Conference elected a newchair Lorna Tooley, who is alsoon the Liaison Committee,along with Dominic Hill, KateStokes and Matt Trotter. Thenew Liaison Committee willbegin preparations for the 2017conference in Salisbury. A voteof thanks to outgoing chairGeorge Waterhouse and vicechair Chris Hodds was alsotaken.

RMTYOUNGMEMBERSMEETRMT Young Membershold their annualconference inCanterbury

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An RMT delegation joinedthe Maritime Union of

Australia's quadrennial nationalconference held in the GoldCoast, Queensland this month,writes Paul Shaw.

From the outset, it was clearthe bond that had been built upbetween MUA and RMTthroughout the years. The lovefor ‘Our Bob’ was also clear,through the t-shirts with hisface on them to their mantra"they don't like us, we don'tcare".

RMT general secretary MickCash took to stage to speak todelegates on the struggles thatwe have around cabotage andseafarers rights - the samestruggles that are seen all overthe world.

Over 120 of the 500delegates were overseas guestsrepresenting over 20 countriesattending a conference by arelevantly small union of 14,000members who certainly punchabove their weight and have the

same ethos as the RMT in beinga politically active, fighting andmilitant union.

Mick spoke about the currentplight facing our seafarers atCalmac. From the platform Mickspoke of the possibleprivatisation of the ferryservices by the SNPgovernment, with outsourcingvultures Serco the other otherbidder in the process.

Other unions members fromaround the world showed theirsupport and sent a message toour members in Scotland thatthe trade union movementworldwide supports each otherin all endeavours.

As a lasting memory to thebond established between thetwo unions, RMT nationalsecretary Steve Todd presentedPaddy Crumlin - MUA nationalsecretary and ITF president -with a stain glass panel withmotifs of both unions similar tothe one that is on display atMaritime House, Clapham.

The MUA have a chant“MUA – Here to stay” and weare sure that the delegatespresent will take away a lastingimpression that RMT is here to

say and as said by the MickCash – “our union was herebefore this government and willbe here after them and many tocome”.

From April 1 2016 the transitional low rate of £1.50 will beincreasing to £1.75 and the transitional full rate of £2.90 will beincreasing to £3.70.

Direct debit payments will be amended accordingly as willcontributions collected by employers under paybill deductionarrangements. Those sending cheques or postal orders direct willneed to adjust the amounts sent in accordingly.

Period Transitional low Transitional full

Weekly £1.75 £3.70

4 Weekly £7.00 £14.80

Monthly £7.58 £16.00

We maintain a tight control of our costs and continually re-examine them to ensure that we make best use of our resourcesto deliver improved services to you. I am sure you will agree that

NOTIFICATION OF CONTRIBUTIONRATE CHANGES FROM APRIL 2016

BUILDING INTERNATIONALSOLIDARITY


ACROSS6 Jumpy (7,5)8 Size of a book (6) 9 Score (6)10 Taunt (4) 11 Doomed (8) 13 Squeeze together (8) 15 By bad luck (4)16 Ribbed fabric (6)18 Thing (6)19 Female singing voice

(12)

DOWN1 Standard equipment

(5,2,5)2 Face (6)3 Uneducated (8)4 Summons (4)5 progress through life (6) 7 Decomposition (12) 12 Lack of respect (9) 14 Lit up (6)15 Relating to stars (6) 17 Not difficult (4)

£50 PRIZECROSSWORD

The wi nner of l astmont h’ s pr i zecr osswor d i s Andr ewJef f er i s, Yat e.Send entries to PrizeCrossword, RMT, UnityHouse, 39 Chalton Street,London NWI IJD by April 15with your name and address.

Winner and solution in nextissue.

Last month’s solution...

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rmt news march 2016

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